Congress says FIR against Rahul Gandhi for ‘protecting Ambedkar’s legacy’: ‘Badge of honour’ | Latest news from India

Congress on Friday said that first information report (FIR) against Rahul Gandhi in connection with the scuffle in Parliament is nothing more than a “diversion tactic” in response to his strong protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on B. R. Ambedkar.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Case Venugopal said the case against Rahul Gandhi for protecting Babasaheb’s legacy was a “badge of honour”.

“The FIR against Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji is nothing but a diversionary tactic in response to his strong protest against the Home Minister.” Venugopal wrote in the post.

“The case against him for protecting Babasaheb’s legacy is a mark of honour. And in any case Rahul ji is already facing 26 FIRs due to BJP’s political vendetta and this latest FIR will not stop him or the Congress from standing against the RSS-BJP casteist regime.”

Besides, he also questioned that while the Delhi Police had lodged an FIR based on the complaint of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs, no such action was taken on the complaint filed by women Congress MLAs.

“At the same time, why didn’t the Delhi Police take action on the FIRs filed by women INC MPs against BJP leaders who physically assaulted them?” he longed to know.

FIR against Rahul Gandhi

The Delhi Police on Thursday registered an FIR against Rahul Gandhi in connection with the scuffle in Parliament in which two BJP MPs were injured.

The BJP filed a police complaint against Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of “physical assault and incitement” during the brawl inside Parliament, and sought to charge him with attempted murder and other charges.

The complaint was lodged at the Parliament Street police station by BJP MP Hemang Joshi. He was accompanied by BJP’s Anurag Thakur and Bansuri Swaraj.

Gandhi was convicted under Sections 117 (intentionally causing grievous bodily harm), 125 (act of endangering the life or personal safety of another), 131 (use of criminal force), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The Congress also filed a complaint at the same police station, alleging that the BJP leaders misbehaved with its chief Mallikarjun Kharge and sought an FIR under sections of “assault, grievous hurt and beating” against them.

Clash in the parliament

Ugly scenes unfolded in the parliament on Thursday after the BJP and the Congress accused each other of assault and shoving. Two BJP MPs were injured and a woman MP alleged intimidation by Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress denied the allegations and said BJP lawmakers blocked Rahul Gandhi’s path and pushed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, injuring him in the knee.

A row erupted near Parliament’s Makar Dwar steps, the entrance and exit designated for legislators, when members of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Indian National Inclusive Development Alliance (INDIA) staged simultaneous protests against Amit Shah’s statement on BR Ambedkar.